Mixed fortunes for Ospreylian Colleges

Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend Colleges suffer defeats but Gower College Swansea record their second victory this season with a 43 - 12 win over Pembrokeshire Schools.

 

There were mixed results this week for the Ospreylian Colleges as they welcomed some tough opposition to their home venues.

Despite some great performances Gower College Swansea have struggled to close out their opposition this season, their only victory so far coming from when they played Pembrokeshire Schools away late last year. 

They were determined to do the double as they hosted the visitors from West Wales yesterday and thanks to some notable performances from Jon Fox and Rhys Gealy they were able to run out an impressive 43 - 12 win.

Bridgend College were not so lucky as they welcomed Gwent to Pencoed College. A single penalty their only points as they were beaten by their visitors 17 - 3.

Neath Port Talbot College have been the most successful of all the Ospreylian Colleges so far this season. They started strongly and their only loss had come after a visit from run-away league leaders Coleg Y Cymoedd. However after a loss last week at Llandrillo they needed to get their season back on track with a win as they welcomed Coleg Sir Gar to Llandarcy.

The game didn't get off to the best start for the home side though as Coleg Sir Gar started strongly from the first whistle. After just a few minutes played they crashed over the line for their first try of the game. 

NPTC tried to get into the match but Sir Gar controlled all areas of play and continued to push them around the field. Within 20 minutes the visitors were able to slip easily between two NPTC defenders for their second try. Neither of them being converted.

The restart was the first time NPTC had looked dangerous. A clever interception and focused attacking play eventually leading to Neath Port Talbot's only try of the game. With Dylan Francis' conversion, the home side were back within three points and it looked like they could be about to stage a comeback.

However just a few minutes later Coleg Sir Gar went back on the offensive. Their intelligent play stretching  NPTC's defence and they were able to slip between players to cross the line. Again their conversion was not successful but at half time they led 15 points to 7.

The second half started no better for Neath Port Talbot, again with just two minutes of the half played their visitors found a gap in their defence and slid over the try line. Their first conversion of the game followed shortly after.

Both sides had moments of good offensive play but strong defending stopped attacks as the ball passed between the two teams. However it was yet again Coleg Sir Gar who made the most of their opportunities as they pressured NPTC back towards their try line and crossed over for their 5th try, which again went unconverted. 

Neath Port Talbot had two further real chances to score tries of their own. An almost certain try was missed when the carrier went in with the ball just feet from the line rather than passing to the last unmarked man. Minutes later they were feet away again from getting their second try of the game but the Sir Gar defence pressurised them into being penalised for holding on.

It was instead Coleg Sir Gar who had the final word of the game as the clock ticked over into full time. They kept the ball in hand and pushed NPTC backwards. A long pass to the last man saw them slip over for their 6th and final try of the game. 

Final Score: Neath Port Talbot College 7 - 34 Coleg Sir Gar.